Brace for correcting deformities in the feet of children



March 11, 1952 ROBINSQN 2,588,411

BRACE FOR CORRECTING DEFORMITIES IN THE FEET OF CHILDREN Filed Dec. 20, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEIET 1 FIG. FIG. 2 FIG. 4

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I" I 5 i I I I I I II I I I Ilhl I I I I I I I II I I I I 1 I I I I I: I l I- ,5 3 [1 I I L 7 I O E 9 I" 13 k I2 2s El/ll INVENTOR KENNETH G. ROBINSON BY ATT RNEY March 11, 1 K. G. ROBINSON 2,588,411

BRACE FOR CORRECTING DEFORMITIES IN THE FEET OF CHILDREN Filed Dec. 20, 1949 I 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I'll 'IIIIII INVENTOR KENNETH G; ROBINSON BY, AQQ IW ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1952 BRACE FOR CORRECTINGDEFORMITIES IN THE FEET OF CHILDREN Kenneth G. Robinson, Norfolk, Va.

Application December 20, 1949, Serial No. 134,073

(Grantedunder the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 4.- Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in orthopedic devices for the treatment of congenital or acquired deformities in childrens feet. The deformity with which the brace described herein is principally concerned is commonly known as flatfoot, medically described as pes valgoplanus or weak foot. In children, this deformity often results from abnormal out-toeing. The abnormal out-toeing is usually accompanied by an inward longitudinal rotation of the foot, medically described as abduction with .pronation of the anterior part of the foot and varus position of the heel.

Present orthopedic devices for the correction of such an abnormality consists principally of orthopedic shoes, corrective bandages, straps,

plaster casts and rigid braces. In some instances, correction of the deformity must be effected by the aforementioned casts or braces since other measures will not suffice. These corrective braces and casts are immobilizing and require frequent removal for the benefit of the patients comfort or for adjustment. In general they allow little or no exercising of the feet while worn.

In general, the correction for pes valgoplanus (weak foot) in children may consist of applying a brace which holds the feet in a position converse to the abnormal position. For example, abnormal outtoeing is treated by positioning the feet in an intoed position. An object of this invention is the provision of novel and improved apparatus for use with childrens shoes affixed, which is designed to afford limited movement of the feet, joints, and muscles while in use, and also to afford a simple means of ad- J'usting the prescribed correction.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such apparatus of suflicient simplicity to permit its manipulation and application by a physician or those skilled in the arts, which will afford an effective and comfortable device for the correction of the abnormalities in childrens feet previously described, in lieu of the immobilizing and uncomfortable braces now in use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such apparatus which will allow exercising of the feet and legs while worn, by freely permitting abduction and adduction of the patients legs.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such apparatus which while worn will freely permit independent dorsi-fiexion or plantar-flexion of the patients feet.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 2 will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the entire device; Figure 2 is a view of the device in elevation; Figure 3 is a right end view; Figure 4 is a bottom view; Figure 5 is an end view showing the capability of an rotation of the end clips; Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective of the entire device showing the positions of the shoes; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along lines 7-'! of Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings in which similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views the device consists essentially of: An inter-connecting sub-assemly comprised of a channel I, slotted as at 20 in the web section 2| of one end 22 and having affixed to the other end 23 by a rivet 5 or other suitable means, an upright, right-angular member 3, and a second upright right-angular member 2, which has an elongated leg which is slidably inserted into the end 22 of the channel I and held by a rivet 4, inserted through a hole 25 in member 2 and thence through the elongated slot 20 in member I, thereby permitting free movement of member 2 for a distance equal to the length of the elongated slot 20 and thus permitting abduction and adduction of the affiicted childs legs.

End sub-assemblies aflixed to each end of the aforementioned inter-connecting sub-assembly are comprised as follows: TWo upright rightangular members 6 and I, are pivotally afiixed by rivets 8 and 9 respectively or other suitable means, to the upright members 2 and 3 of the inter-connecting sub-assembly. It will be particularly noted that this pivotal connection permits rotation of members 6 and 1 about the axes of rivets 8 and 8, which is parallel to the Iongitudinal axis of the entire device, and hence accomodates dorsi-fiexion and plantar-flexion of the feet.

To the horizontal portion of each member 6 and l (as shown in Fig. 7) are attached channelshaped shoe clips, l0 and II respectively by bolts 12 and nuts I3 or other suitable means. In this fashion angular positioning of the channelshaped shoe clips is permitted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the whole device. Such angular positioning is selectively controlled by dowel pins I4 and I5 inserted in the cor.respond-. ing holes 26 in members 6, 1, H] and H.

The channel-shaped shoe clips l0 and H are ahgularly positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the whole device according to the desire of the physician or other person using the device.

The childs shoes are attached to the device as follows: The shoes are longitudinally slidably inserted into the channel shoe clips l and H so that the upper projection of-the clips rides over the welt of the shoes on both sides and thus restrains them, such restraint being further assured by the insertion of rivets, not shown, or other fastening means, through the soles of each of the shoes and thence through a hole 21 in the lower web section of each of the channel-shaped shoe clips I0 and II. The aforedescribed insertion of the childs shoes is accomplished in such a manner as to placethe longitudinal axis of the shoes at right angles to the longest axis of the metallic shoe clips, members It] and I I.

It will thus be seen that there is herein provided a novel, efficient, and highly adaptable form of orthopedic device which is well suited for the purpose intended. It is to be understood that various modifications of the particular construction and operation of parts described may be made so long as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. An orthopedic device for correcting deformities in childrens feet comprising an elongated channel member having a longitudinal slot in the Web section adjacent one end of the channel, a right angle member having one arm received in the said end of the channel member and freely slidable therein, means on said arm extending into said slot and engageable with the ends of the slot to limit said free slidable move ment, the other arm of said right angle member extending laterally of the channel member, a fixed member extending at right angles from the other end of said channel member, a right angle member having one of its arms pivotally mounted in face to face relation to said other arm of said first mentioned right angle member for free rotation with respect thereto, a right angle member having one of its arms pivotally mounted in face to face relation to said fixed member for free rotation with respect thereto,

and shoe clip members mounted one on each of the other arms of said last mentioned right angle members, said freely slidable channel connection providing for free abduction and adduction of the patients legs, and said pivotally mounted foot supporting right angle members providing for free rotation in plantar-flexion and dorsi-fiexion.

2. In apparatus according to claim 1, said shoe clip members being channel shaped and being pivotally mounted on said other arms for rotary adjustment about a vertical axis, and means disposed between said clips and said other arms for holding said shoe clip members in angularly adjusted position. I

3. An orthopedic device for correcting deformities in childrens feet comprising a pair of elongated members, means connecting said members for free longitudinal movement relative to each other, means limiting said free relative longitudinal movement, outer end portions extending at right angles to each of said elongated members, a pair of right angle members each having one arm freely pivoted in face to face relation to one of said right angle end portions of said. elongated members, and shoe clips mounted on the other arms of said pair of pivoted right angle members.

4. An orthopedic device for correcting deformities in childrens feet comprising a pair of elongated members, means connecting said members for free longitudinal movement relative to each other, means limiting said free relative longitudinal movement, outer end portions extending at right angles to each of said elongated members, a pair of right angle members each having one arm freely pivoted in face to face relation to one of said right angle end portions of said elongated members, and shoe clips mounted on the other arms of said pair of pivoted right angle members, said shoe clip members being channel shaped and being pivotally mounted on said other arms for rotary adjustment about a vertical axis, and means disposed between said clips and said other armsfor holding said shoe clip members in angularly adjusted position.

KENNETH G. ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hussey Dec. 14, 1852 Number 

